THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WARD, PIPPY AND RAFFERTY, JUNE 22, 2012

REFERRED TO LAW AND JUSTICE, JUNE 22, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 10, 1951 (P.L.1189, No.265),

entitled, as amended, "An act regulating the appointment,

promotion, suspension, reduction, removal and reinstatement

of employes (except superintendents, assistant

superintendents, inspectors, chief clerks and school guards)

in bureaus of police in cities of the second class; and

defining the powers and duties of civil service commissions

in such cities for such purposes," further providing for

qualifications for appointment in the competitive class of

the civil service.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 3 of the act of August 10, 1951

(P.L.1189, No.265), entitled, as amended, "An act regulating the

appointment, promotion, suspension, reduction, removal and

reinstatement of employes (except superintendents, assistant

superintendents, inspectors, chief clerks and school guards) in

bureaus of police in cities of the second class; and defining

the powers and duties of civil service commissions in such

cities for such purposes," amended March 20, 1990 (P.L.78,

No.17), is amended to read:

Section 3.  Each applicant for original appointment to any

position in the competitive class in any bureau of police in any

city of the second class shall undergo a physical examination,

subsequent to a mental examination but prior to appointment,

which shall be conducted by a commission composed of doctors of

medicine appointed for that purpose by the mayor. Said

commission shall certify to the civil service commission that

the applicant is free from bodily or mental defects, deformity

or disease that might incapacitate him from the performance of

the duties of the position he is seeking. No application for

such appointment shall be received from any person who is under

eighteen years of age or over thirty-five years of age at the

date of his application. [A person applying for appointment

shall not be required to be a resident of the city at the time

of application for original appointment. The person shall,

however, be required] A city of the second class may require a

police officer to become a bona fide resident of the city [at

the time] as a condition of employment[, and city residency must

be maintained for the entire period of employment]. Any

applicant for reinstatement as a member of the bureau of police

who shall have served as an employe in such bureau of police for

a period of more than six months[, and who at the time of his

application for reinstatement shall be a resident of such city,]

shall be eligible for such reinstatement, even though such

applicant shall be over the age of thirty-five years. A city of

the second class may require a reinstated police officer to meet

the same residency requirement as all other police officers.

All original appointments to the position of police officer

in the bureau of police shall be for a probationary period of

six months. If at any time during the probationary period the

conduct or capacity of the probationer has not been satisfactory

to the appointing officer, the probationer shall be notified, in

writing, that he will not receive absolute appointment,

whereupon his employment shall cease; otherwise, his retention

in the service shall be equivalent to final appointment.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.